LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — On Monday, Clark County School District Superintendent Dr. Jesus Jara emailed the Board of Trustees his annual State of the Schools address. This comes less than two weeks since he submitted his letter of resignation.
The State of the Schools address was previously scheduled last month but was canceled because of the death of Jara's mother. Instead of a new date to make the speech, Jara elected to submit written remarks.
In the address, Jara provides an overview of the FOCUS: 2024 strategic plan, which is the framework for students' success. Jara also lays out a list of accomplishments, claiming CCSD is "better positioned today than it was in 2018" when he first took over as superintendent in Southern Nevada.
Some of those accomplishments listed include an increase in graduation rates, an uptick in teacher hires from previous years and improved college readiness.
"It's interesting when I read over the document that was released, I did remember several things that have been accomplished during Dr. Jara's tenure," said parent Rebecca Dirks Garcia.
Dirks Garcia has three students in CCSD. She said while Jara was able to achieve positive outcomes for students during his time as superintendent, it's unclear to her how they were accomplished.
"Whether it be an increase in funding that's now available because the state has changed its funding formula versus the responsibilities of Dr. Jara's decisions, that's where it gets harder to parse out," said Dirks Garcia.
But Clark County Education Association treasurer and Liberty High School reacher Kenny Belknap called Jara's tenue "failed leadership."
"He's just cherry picking a few pieces of data that support his flawed argument that he made some miraculous change," said Belknap. "But if that was really the case, you wouldn't see people like the Speaker of the Assembly coming out and asking him to be fired with cause."
In the address, Jara also apologizes for being unable to negotiate the look-back option for new teacher contracts. It's something he blames CCEA for.
"You've got to ask the teachers' union," said Jara in an interview last month. "Mr. Vellardita was the negotiator. I wasn't at the table but it was one of the priorities."
However, Belknap believes the apology in the address is insincere.
"It's disingenous," said Belknap. "It's the same thing he played throughout the whole contract negotiation."
Meanwhile, Dirks Garcia is looking forward to changes in leadership and hopes for a swift transition.
"We need to move on," said Dirks Garcia. "It's clear that he's not in a position to lead the district anymore, even if he wanted to and it doesn't seem that he wants to."
Jara did not mention his resignation in his address.
On Jan. 30, Jara submitted a formal letter of resignation stating he would not longer be superintendent beginning Feb. 21.
However, the CCSD Board of Trustees did not approve his resignation during its last board meeting.
Jara is also in a legal battle with the Clark County Education Association because of posts he allegedly made on social media.
